Chapter 3: Sound and Time
The sun had just begun to rise over the city, casting a golden hue across the skyline. In Dr. Santiago’s lab, Journey and Turner were already hard at work. The events of the past few days had pushed them to their limits, but they knew they had to become even stronger to face the challenges ahead.
Journey stood in front of a large clock, her eyes focused intently on the second hand as it ticked steadily. She raised her hand, feeling the familiar tingling sensation of her powers activating.
“Remember, Journey,” Dr. Santiago’s voice echoed from across the room,
“it’s not just about slowing time. It’s about understanding and manipulating its flow.”
Journey nodded, her brow furrowing in concentration. She envisioned the clock slowing down, its ticks becoming further apart. The room around her seemed to blur and stretch as time itself bent to her will. She took a deep breath, maintaining her focus as she walked around the clock, examining it from every angle.
Meanwhile, Turner was in a separate training area, surrounded by mirrors. He watched his reflection closely, his fingers tapping out a rhythm on his thigh. He took a deep breath, then clapped his hands together. The sound waves reverberated, and in an instant, a perfect duplicate of himself appeared beside him.
“Alright, Echo, let’s see what you’ve got,” Turner said, grinning at his double.
The Echo nodded, mirroring Turner’s movements as they began a series of combat drills. Punches and kicks flew through the air with precision and power. Turner and his Echo moved in perfect harmony, a symphony of sound and motion.
Dr. Santiago observed both of them, taking notes on a tablet. He nodded approvingly as Journey managed to slow the clock’s hands to a near standstill.
“Excellent control, Journey. Now, try to reverse it slightly.”
Journey exhaled slowly, focusing on the clock once more. The second hand trembled, then began to move backward. She smiled, the sense of accomplishment flooding her senses.
“I did it.”
“Very good,” Dr. Santiago praised.
“You’re getting better every day. The more you practice, the more natural it will become.”
In the other room, Turner’s training was interrupted by a sudden flicker of light. His Echo stumbled and faded slightly before regaining its form.
“Whoa, what was that?” Turner asked, frowning.
Dr. Santiago entered the room, glancing at the equipment.
“It seems the energy required to maintain your Echo is more than anticipated. You need to work on stabilizing it.”
Turner nodded, his determination renewed. “I’ll keep at it, Doc. I want to make sure my Echo can handle anything.”
Journey joined them, wiping sweat from her brow.
“How’s it going over here?”
Turner shrugged.
“Still working out the kinks. But we’re getting there.”
Dr. Santiago clapped his hands, drawing their attention.
“Let’s take a short break. I have something to show you both.”
They followed him to a large computer console, where he brought up a holographic map of the city. Red dots indicated areas of recent activity linked to Larkson’s app.
“While you’ve been training, I’ve been monitoring EchoBeat’s influence,” Dr. Santiago explained.
“Larkson’s reach is expanding, and more teenagers are being affected. We need to be ready for anything.”
Journey’s eyes narrowed as she studied the map.
“So what’s our next move?”
Dr. Santiago pointed to a cluster of red dots in the downtown area.
“There’s been a significant increase in activity here. I suspect Larkson is using this area to test new methods of control. I want you two to investigate and gather as much information as you can.”
Turner cracked his knuckles, a determined look on his face.
“Sounds like a plan. Let’s do this.”
---
Later that evening, Journey and Turner found themselves on a rooftop overlooking the bustling downtown district. The streets below were filled with people, but their attention was on the teenagers gathered around, each displaying varying degrees of power and influence.
“This is worse than I thought,” Journey murmured, her eyes scanning the crowd. “They’re completely under Larkson’s control.”
Turner nodded, his gaze fixed on a group of teens creating chaos with their powers.
“We need to figure out how he’s doing this and put a stop to it.”
Journey closed her eyes, focusing on the flow of time around them. She could sense the pulses of energy emanating from the crowd, each one tied to the app’s influence. “There’s a pattern,” she said, opening her eyes. “The app is sending out waves of energy at regular intervals. It’s like a metronome, controlling their actions.”
Turner created an Echo, sending it into the crowd to get a closer look. “Let’s see what we’re dealing with.”
As his Echo moved through the throng of teenagers, Turner watched through its eyes, noting the strange devices many of them wore. Small, wrist-mounted gadgets that seemed to pulse with the same energy as the app.
“It’s those devices,” Turner said, his Echo blending seamlessly with the crowd. “They’re amplifying the app’s signal.”
Journey nodded, her mind racing. “We need to disable those devices. If we can disrupt the signal, we might be able to free these kids.”
Suddenly, a commotion erupted below. One of the teenagers, a tall boy with wild eyes, spotted Turner’s Echo and pointed. “Intruders!” he shouted, his voice amplified by the app.
The crowd turned, their eyes glowing with the same eerie light. Turner recalled his Echo, his heart pounding. “Time to move.”
Journey grabbed his hand, and in an instant, she slowed time around them. The world seemed to move in slow motion as they navigated through the crowd, avoiding the grasping hands of the controlled teenagers.
They reached the center of the disturbance, where a large stage had been set up. On it, a massive speaker system blared music, the source of the energy pulses. Journey released her hold on time, and they both approached the stage cautiously.
“We need to take out that speaker,” Turner said, his eyes fixed on the device. “It’s the main conduit for the signal.”
Journey nodded, focusing on the speaker. She raised her hand, willing time to slow around it. The music began to warp and distort as the flow of time was disrupted.
Turner summoned an Echo, directing it to the speaker’s control panel. “Let’s see what makes this thing tick.”
The Echo deftly navigated the controls, searching for a way to shut down the device. Meanwhile, the crowd of teenagers began to close in, their movements slow but determined.
“Hurry, Turner,” Journey urged, her control over time wavering under the strain.
“I’m on it,” Turner replied, his Echo finally locating the main power switch. With a swift motion, the Echo flipped the switch, and the speaker system fell silent.
The crowd paused, their eyes losing the eerie glow as the app’s influence waned. Journey and Turner exchanged relieved glances, but their victory was short-lived.
A figure emerged from the shadows, clapping slowly. Larkson stepped onto the stage, a cruel smile on his lips. “Well done, children. I didn’t expect you to figure it out so quickly.”
Journey glared at him, her hands still glowing with residual energy. “We’re going to stop you, Larkson. You can’t keep doing this.”
Larkson chuckled, shaking his head. “You’re brave, I’ll give you that. But bravery won’t be enough. I have plans for this city, and you’re not going to stand in my way.”
Turner created an Echo, positioning it between them and Larkson. “We’re not afraid of you.”
“Perhaps you should be,” Larkson replied, raising a hand. Energy crackled around him as he activated his own device, amplifying his control over the crowd once more.
Journey and Turner braced themselves as the teenagers, now under Larkson’s direct influence, began to advance again.
“We need to retreat,” Journey said, her voice tense.
“We’re outnumbered.”
Turner nodded, recalling his Echo.
“Let’s go.”
They made a hasty exit, weaving through the slowed crowd and disappearing into the night. As they regrouped on a nearby rooftop, their breaths came in heavy gasps.
“That was close,” Turner said, wiping sweat from his forehead. “Larkson’s more powerful than we thought.”
Journey nodded, her mind racing.
“But we learned something important. Those devices are key to his control. If we can find a way to neutralize them, we might stand a chance.”
Dr. Santiago’s voice crackled through their earpieces.
“Well done, both of you. Return to the lab. We need to analyze the data you’ve gathered and formulate a new plan.”
---
Back at the lab, Journey and Turner debriefed with Dr. Santiago, sharing their observations and experiences. Dr. Santiago listened intently, his mind working to piece together the puzzle.
“These devices are more sophisticated than I anticipated,” he said, examining a holographic representation of the wrist-mounted gadgets.
“But with the data you’ve collected, we can start developing a countermeasure.”
Journey leaned over the table, her eyes focused on the hologram.
“We need to act fast. Larkson isn’t going to sit back and wait for us to stop him.”
Turner nodded in agreement.
“And we need to be ready for anything. He’s not going to make it easy.”